山西省太原市2021届高三上学期期中质量监测英语试题含答案

2021年太原市综合高级中学高三英语上学期期中试题及答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AOlder adults who sleep six hours or fewer a night may have elevated risk for dementia(痴呆症) and other cognitive (认知的) issues, a new study finds.Researchers at Stanford University measured seniors' (ages 65 to 85) dementia risk and cognitive abilities, finding higher risk in those patients who regularly slept six or fewer hours compared to those who slept seven or eight hours. Those seniors who slept nine or more hours also had lower cognitive functions and other health issues, but the researchers didn't find the same high dementia risk in this group.The findings demonstrate how important it is for adults to maintain a healthy sleep cycle, especially as they get older.As adults age, it's common for their sleep patterns to change or becomedisrupted— leading to longer, shorter, or more irregular sleep. This disruption may be linked to Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, impacting seniors' ability to remember information, problem-solve, and go through everyday behaviors. Sleep disruption can also be caused by or heighten depression, cardiovascular disease（冠心病）, and other conditions.A recommended sleep time for seniors is seven to eight hours, the researchers said. Six or fewer hours corresponded to short sleep, while nine or more hours corresponded to long sleep.The Stanford researchers measured levels of beta amyloid, a protein in the brain that is typically found in high levels when a patient develops Alzheimer's. In addition, the researchers used several tests for memory, attention, spatial skills, and executive function to identify patients' cognitive abilities. Those patients sleeping for six hours or fewer a night were more likely to develop dementia, the researchers found. The low-sleep patients had higher levels of beta amyloid.The Stanford researchers found that patients with lower sleep also performed worse on memory tests, while those with higher sleep (more hours) performed worse on executive function tests，which measure the brain's ability to switch between different tasks.―The main takeaway is that it is important to maintain healthy sleep late in life, Winer told CNN.1. What does the underlined word “disrupted” in paragraph 4 mean?A. difficultB. disorderedC. dissolvedD. different2. According to the findings, which of the following is NOT related to the disrupted sleep?A. It is more likely to cause old people to have bad memories over issues.B. It may contribute to dementia, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses.C. Some daily behaviors perhaps differ from those whose sleeping is normal.D It tends to bring all the old people to undergo brain scans and cognitive tests.3. What can we infer from the study?A. A proper sleep time for seniors is seven to eight hours.B. Low and high sleep patients were both poor at memory tests.C. Executive function test is applied to measure the capacity of brain.D. Keeping a healthy sleep for older adults late in life is crucial.BScientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (麻省理工学院) have turned spider webs into music——creating an strange soundtrack that could help them better understand how the spiders output their complex creations and even how they communicate.The MIT team worked with Berlin-based artist Tomas Saraceno to take 2D (two-dimensional) laser (激光) scans of a spider web, which were linked together and made into a mathematical model that could recreate the web in 3Din VR (virtual reality). They also worked with MIT’s music department to create the virtual instrument.“Even though the web looks really random (随机)，there actually are a lot of inside structures and you can visualize (可视化) them and you can look at them, but it’s really hard to grasp for the human imagination or human brain to understand all these structural details,” said MIT engineering professor Markus Buehler, who presented the work on Monday at a virtual meeting of the American Chemical Society.Listening to the music while moving through the VR spider web lets you see and hear these structural changes and gives a better idea of how spiders see the world, he told CNN. “Spiders use vibrations (振动) as a way to locate themselves, to communicate with other spiders and so the idea of thinking really like a spider would experience the world was something that was very important to us as spider material scientists,” Buehler said.Spiders are able to build their webs without shelves or supports, so having a better idea of how they work could lead to the development of advanced new 3D printing techniques. “The reason why I did that is I wanted to be able to get information really from the spider world, which is very weird and mysterious,” Buehler explained. In addition to the scientific value, Buehler said the webs are musically interesting and that you can hear the soundsthe spider creates during construction. “It’s unusual and eerie and scary, but finally beautiful.” he described.4. What have MIT scientists done according to the passage?A. They have translated spider webs into sounds.B. They have made a mathematical model to produce webs.C. They have created a soundtrack to catch spiders.D. They have known how spiders communicate.5. What can we know about spider webs from paragraph 3?A. Their structures are beautiful and clear.B. Professor Markus Buehler knows them well.C. The American Chemical Society presents the result.D. They are complex for people to figure it out.6. In which field will the study be helpful?A. virtual realityB. printingC. paintingD. film-making7. What is the main idea of the passage?A. It tells us that the music created by spiders is scary.B. It shows how the researchers carry out the experiment.C. It presents a new and creative way to study spiders.D. It explains why scientists did the experiment.CAccording to statistics published by the BPI (Buying Power Index) a couple of months ago, digital streaming (流媒体) now accounts for 80 percent of the music consumption in the UK. Despite the incredible growth of online streaming platforms like iTunes, Apple Music and Tidal over the past 15 years, a more traditional medium has also seen a return of interest and sales in the music industry. In 2020, almost one in five of all albums purchased in the UK is vinyl (黑胶唱片), and it has once again become the most popular physical musical medium.With digital streaming so easy and convenient, why are so many peopledrawn to traditional records? Some experts claim that vinyl is a physical medium for experiencing music, something tangible (有形的) to hold and own. For most people, having something tangible and interacting with it gives depth to the experience of music. Listening to an album and touching it the way the artist intended can make them feel more connected to the music and the artist. Records are physical products that can be not only displayed but also gifted, shared, tradedand passed down through generations.Sound quality is another hot topic. A lot of music lovers feel that the analogue sound (模拟声音) vinyl offers is superior to modern digital audio, particularly with regards to the compressed formats streaming platforms use. There’s a common belief that old-school analogue audio has a warmer, fuller sound than digitised music. For vinyl followers, the very defect traditional recorders often have, such as the familiar crackle (劈啪作响) when the record starts, bring the music to life in a different way.There’s aritualisticaspect to vinyl that a lot of people are drawn to, too. The act of putting a record on—carefully removing the record from the sleeve, placing it on the record player and gently dropping the needle on the right groove (凹槽)—is a more assiduous (一丝不苟的), mindful way of engaging with music. When you’re listening to vinyl, you can’t tap abutton and go about your day while the streaming service provides hours of music. You need to stay close to the record player to move the needle and flip the record over.It’s clear that the vinyl interest is well underway, and vinyl records are truly making a comeback. In an increasingly digital society, there’s something to be said for analogue experiences. Perhaps one of the great things about being alive in the 21st century is our ability to have the best of both worlds—the timeless appeal of physical records alongside the easy access to vast music libraries that streaming offers.8. What are the statistics published by the BPI used to show?A. An increase in music consumption.B. The recovery of music industry.C. A comeback of a physical medium.D. The acceptance of online streaming.9. According to some experts, why does vinyl interest many people?A. It attracts people by its realistic feel.B. It offers simple access to different music.C. It shares a new way to enjoy music.D. It provides people with perfect sound effect.10. The underlined word “ritualistic” in Para.4 means something ______.A. Overlooked by society.B. Updated very frequently.C. Performed as part of a ceremony.D. Kept for a long time without changing.11. How does the writer feel about the future development of music medium?A. Traditional records will get underway.B. The analogue experiences may matter more.C. Vinyl sales will boom with technological advance.D. There should be a good mix of old and new.DMy mother is a teacher. I often asked her, “ Why do you teach? What keeps you teaching?” The answer was always the same. “There is always that one child, that one moment that is worth it.”Now, I am a teacher, too. But different from my mother, I teach students challenging activities outdoors. And when my mother asked me the similar questions, my answer was, “It’s that one child, that one special moment.”One of those moments happened recently. I was working with a group of girls in a four-week programme. Everything went on well through the “Team” events and we were moving on to a“High” one called the Wire Walk.In the Wire Walk, each girl had to climb up the pegs in a tree to a wire, 8 meters high, and then walk across it. Of course, everything was safe for sure.When it was Susie's turn, it seemed that she didn't really want to. I asked Susie if she was ready. She answered softly, “I suppose.”Now, Susie was at the foot of the tree. She started to make the long reach. Then I found Susie was becoming nervous with every step. I realized she would not go much further.Susie was halfway up. Then she stopped and held the tree tight, looking very afraid. Her eyes were closed. With her face against the tree, she cried, “I can't.”The other girls sat in silence. I talked quietly to Susie, trying to relax her. I talked for a long time till I ran out of words.“I will still be your friend no matter what, Susie!” Mary broke the silence.To my surprise, Susie lifted her head and looked up to the wire. Then she turned to look down at Mary and smiled. Mary smiled back.Finally, Susie made it all the way across that wire. When she returned to the ground, the first hug she looked for was from Mary. We all cheered. Moments like this keep me doing what I do.12. Why did Susie stop halfway up to the wire?A. It was too high for her to reach.B. She was too afraid to move on.C. Something was wrong with it.D. The teacher asked her to do it.13. Why did Mary break the silence?A. To try again herself.B. To relax the writer.C. To encourage Susie.D. To draw Susie's attention.14. What can we learn from the story of Susie?A. Helping others is helping ourselves.B. A word of encouragement matters a lot.C. Outdoor activities bring peoplecloser than ever.D. A good method plays an important role in teaching.15. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?A. The Wire WalkB. That One MomentC. Fear and CourageD. The Young Hearts第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021年太原市综合高级中学高三英语上学期期中试卷及答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AStepping Out Into NatureThe classic road trip is more popular than ever. Here are several places to hit the open road.Colo-road TripsThe Colorado Tourism Office has made it easy for road-trippers to explore the state’s 24 Scenic & Historic Byways.A new microsite includes-an interactive map that enables travelers to explore options by region, interest or season. Travelers seeking inspiration can also access insider tips and side-trip suggestions for historic attractions, active adventures and highlight cultural opportunities.TheBeartooth Highway.Visitors of this extraordinary byway experience the grand sights ofMontana,WyomingandYellowstonePark. The windy 68-mile stretch introduces road explorers to one of the most diverse ecosystems accessible by auto. Breathtakingly beautiful, this All-American Road showcases wide, high alpine plateaus（高原）, painted with ice blue lakes, forested valleys, waterfalls and wildlife.SewardHighway,AlaskaThe road that connectsAnchorageto Seward is 127-mile treasure of natural beauty, wildlife and stories of adventure. The drive begins at the base of theChugach Mountains, hugs the scenic shores of Turnagain Arm and winds through gold mining towns, national forests and fishing villages. Expect waterfalls, glaciers, eagles and some good bear stories.The Lighthouse Trail,MaineTravel the 375 miles betweenKitteryandCalais,Maine, visiting lighthouses along the way. Hear tales of shipwrecks（海难）and of the difficult and lonely life led by those who kept the lights burning brightly. If possible, visit theMaineLighthouseMuseum. where artifacts and hands-on exhibits for children provide an appealing break.1.What makes Colo-road Tips special?A.Good bear stories.B.A scenic beach.C.Hands-on exhibits.D.An interactive map.2.Where can you explore state of gold miners?A.Colorado.B.Montana.C.Alaska.D.Maine3.Which place is suitable for a family with children?A.Colo-road Trips.B.TheBeartooth Highway.C.Seward Highway.D.The Lighthouse Trail.BIf you've ever had a dog, you know just howdeep a connection you can develop with “man's best friend”. But a dog's life is much shorter than humans, about 12 to 15 years long, which means every dog owner has to go through the heart­breaking moment when their loving pet passes away.Why not make a clone of that dog then? This is the solution offered by a South Korean company, Sooam Biotech Research Foundation. The company has already successfully cloned at least 400 dogs, mostly for US customers, ever since it pioneered the technique in 2005. Now, Sooam Biotech has introduced its business toUKdog owners as well, offering them dogs that look just like their lost ones.To clone a dog, researchers first need to take a skin cell from a living dog or one that has just died. Meanwhile,another dog is selected to supply an egg. Researchers then replace the DNA in the egg with that from the skin cell and implant the egg into the womb (子宫) of a female dog. The egg grows into a puppy over the following two months. The whole process takes less than a day, but it comes at a shockingly high price — around ￡63,000.But if you can't afford it now, you can also save the cell in a laboratory andaccess it at a later date.However, magical as cloning might sound, there is no guarantee that the cloned dog will be a perfect copy of the original one. Just like identical twins of humans, they share the exactly same DNA but there will still be small differences between them. “The spots on a Dalmatian (斑点狗) clone will be different, for example” Insung Hwang, head of Sooam Biotech, told The Guardian.Dog owners will also have to accept the fact that personality is not “cloneable”. Apart from genes, personality is also determined by upbringing and environment, which are both random elements that cloning technologies simply cannot overcome, Professor Tom Kirkwood atNewcastle University,UK, told The Telegraph.Perhaps bringing our dogs back by cloning is not the best way to remember them after all.Kirkwood, a dog owner himself, pointed out, “An important aspect of our relationship with them is coming to terms with the pain of letting go.”4. What service does Sooam Biotech Research Foundation offer?A. Making copies of pet dogs.B. Giving pet dogs identical twinsC. Helping dogs give birth to more puppies.D.Helping dog owners love their dogs more.5. Which order is correct in the dog cloning process?a. An egg is taken from another dog.b. A skin cell is taken from the pet dog.c. The egg grows into a puppy in two months.d. The egg is placed in the womb of a female dog.e. The DNA in the egg is replaced by the DNA from the skin cell.A.a→d→b→e→c.B. a→e→b→d→cC. b→a→d→e→c.D. b→a→e→d→c.6. What can we learn about dog cloning from the passage?A. It has not been put into practice until recently.B. It is very popular among US andUKpet owners.C. It might not give the owners an exactlysame dog.D. It is very expensive and usually takes half a year to complete.7. What doesKirkwoodthink of dog cloning?A. He disagrees with it.B. He supports it.C. He is curious about it.D. He thinks it unbelievable.CHappiness is not a warm phone, according to a new study exploring the link between young life satisfaction and screen time. The study was led by professor of psychology Jean M. Twenge at San Diego State University (SDSU).To research this link, Twenge, along with colleagues Gabrielle Martin at SDSU and W. Keith Campbell at the University of Georgia, dealt with data from the Monitoring the Future (MtF) study, a nationally representative survey of more than a million U. S. 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders. The survey asked students questions about how often they spent time on their Phones, tablets and computers, as well as questions about their face-to-face social interactions and their overall happiness.On average found that teens who spent more time in front of screen devices — playing computer games, using social media, texting and video chatting — were less happy than those who invested more time in non-screen activities like sports, reading newspapers and magazines, and face-to-face social interactions."The key to digital media use and happiness is limited use," Twenge said. "Aim to spend no more than two hours a day on digital media, and try to increase the amount of time you spend seeing friends face-to-face and exercising — two activities reliably linked to greater happiness."Looking at historical trends from the same age groups since the 1990s, it's easy to find that the increase of screen devices over time happened at the same time as a general drop-off in reported happiness inU. S.teens. Specifically, young peopled life satisfaction and happiness declined sharply after 2012. That's the year when the percentage of Americans who owned a smartphone rose above 50 percent. By far the largest change in teens' lives between 2012 and 2016 was the increase in the amount of time they spent on digital media, and the following decline in in-person social activities and sleep.8. Which method did Twenge's team use for the study?A. Calculating students' happiness.B. Asking students certain questions.C. Analyzing data from a survey.D. Doing experiments on screen time.9. How does the author develop the finding of the study in paragraph 3?A. By making a comparison.B. By giving an example.C. By making an argument.D. By introducing a concept.10. What is the purpose of the last paragraph?A To draw a conclusion from the study.B. To offer some advice to the readers.C. To prove social activities' importance.D. To support the researchers' finding.11. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?A. Quitting Phones Equals HappinessB. Screen Time Should Be BannedC. Teens' Lives Have Changed SharplyD. Screen-addicted Teens Are UnhappierDAfter a year at sea, 16-year-old Laura Dekker can finally say, “Missionaccomplished!” Last month, she finished a daring trip around the world aboard her 38-foot boat, Guppy. Dekker, who is from theNetherlands, traveled more than 30,000 miles all by herself. She is the youngest person ever to sail around the globe alone.Dekker had wanted to lake on this challenge when she was even younger. She first tried to set sail at the age of 13, but a court in theNetherlandsstopped her. They said that she was too young to make such a risky trip by herself. But Dekker insisted she had the navigation skills and patience of an adult sailor.She finally took off on January 20, 2011. During her trip, Dekker battled loneliness, storms, and worries about pirates. But she also got to surf, scuba dive, and started a new hobby: playing the flute. Although Dekker didn’t spend all of her time at sea—she stopped at ports along the way—she did spend her 16lh birthday on the open ocean. To celebrate, she ate doughnuts for breakfast.But Dekker didn’t sail into the record books. Guinness World Records and the World Sailing Speed Record Council no longer recognize records for “youngest” sailors. They dropped the category in 2009 to discourage children fromattempting such dangerous feats (壮举). But that didn’t stop Dekker，who was born on a yacht during a seven-year world voyage undertaken by her parents.Dekker doesn’t mind that she won’t hold an official record. She says it was a personal goal, and she is happy she achieved it.“I am not disappointed at all that Guinness World Record won’t recognize my attempt.” Dekker wrote on her website. “I did not start on my trip to achieve any record…I did it just for myself.”12. Dekker wasn’t allowed to sail at the age of 13 because .A. people were concerned about her safetyB.she didn’t learn any sailing skills wellC. she had to continue her study at schoolD. she didn’t have enough patience for long trips13. What does the underlined word “accomplished” in Paragraph 1 mean?A. Failed.B. Completed.C. Continued.D. Started.14. In 2009 records for youngest sailors were canceled in order to .A. set a higher sailing standard for teen sailorsB. stop children entering Guinness World RecordsC. encourage parents to sail with their childrenD. prevent children making dangerous attempts15. What could be the best title for this passage?A. A New Guinness World Record in SailingB. A New Sailing Standard for Teen SailorsC. A Teen Girl Sailing Alone Aroundthe WorldD. The Youngest Sailor in Guinness World Records第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021届太原市综合高级中学高三英语上学期期中考试试卷及参考答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AThree Things to Do Before You Are 18Are you bored with your daily life? Here are some things you should try before you are 18.★Learn to swimSeriously, this is so important that it can save your life. If you can’t swim well, you won’t be able to dowater sports like waterskiing, surfing and diving. Even taking a boat trip will be dangerous for you. Make sure you do it.★Try at least one kind of team sportsBeing a good team player is an important skill in life. You can’t just think of yourself, but have to work well with other people. Other advantages of team sports like basketball, football and baseball are that they keep you fit and healthy, and they are also great fun. Teams usually have a good social life too—you’ll go to lots of parties and make many friends.★Collect somethingOne of the best hobbies for under-18s is collecting things. You could collect kinds of stamps, or you could collect things that make you remember what you have done, like cinema tickets for films you have seen or letters from friends. The best way to collect is to have a special album to put your collection in and to write what each thing means to you. That way you won’t forget.1. The most important reason for learning to swim is that ________.A. you might feel wellB. it can make you healthyC. you might easily do lots of thingsD. it can save your life2. The writer tells us that one of the best hobbies is to ________ .A. collect somethingB. do some water sportsC. send letters to your friendsD. play basketball with your friends23. The passage is mainly about ________before you are 18.A. good habits to keepB. skills to haveC. things to doD. sports to playBFor years, Zach Ault, a father of three, enjoyed being physically active. He was even training for a half-marathon. But in 2017, he took time off to recover from an infection. After recovering, he tried to continue his runs but could not complete them. He was not able to spend time with his children. He had to cut back his job. Even sleeping as much as 16 hours a day made no difference in his condition.“His body had literally hijacked him and it wasn't going to allow him to push through, ” said Anne Ault, his wife. After months of testing, doctors announced their result-chronic fatigue syndrome, a disease that makes an individual feel extremely tired.This fatigue lasts more than six months and becomes worse after any kind of physical exertion (费力活动). Patients may have difficulty standing upright. They also may have trouble thinking, often described as a “brain fog”. There are no approvedtreatments, or even tests to help with diagnosis. There is no way to predict who will recover and who will have a severe case that lasts for years.Now the doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are conducting a unique study to learn more about the condition. Zach Ault is one of the subjects in the study. When Ault rides an exercise bicycle, scientists measure how his leg muscles use oxygen. Afterward, doctors fit a special cap on Ault's head to measure electrical activity in his brain. They then send him to spend the night in an air-tight room where air has been removed with pipe for additional study. Scientists measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to tell how much energy Ault is using, minute by minute. “We're figuring out how his body adjusts to an exercise load, or a stress load.”“It's hard not knowing if or when I'm going to recover, ” he said. But Ault says the study did help him learn about the disease. And it gave him ideas about how to save up his energy.4. What was Zach Ault's life like before 2017?A. He was fond of exercising.B. He won several half-marathons.C. He spent much time lying in bed.D. He was busy looking after his children.5. How did the infection affect Zach Ault?A. He lost his job.B. He was unable to sleep.C. He became too weak to do sports.D. He was tired of running a half-marathon.6. What can we learn about chronic fatigue syndrome?A. It usually lasts no more than months.B. It is likely to cause thinking disorders.C. Patients with it need to stay in bed all day long.D. Patients with it should avoid any kind of exercise.7. What does Zach Ault think of the study?A. It helped him cure his illness.B. It helped him recover and stay fit.C. It taught him how to enjoy cycling.D. It brought him new ideas about fighting diseases.CThe Great Barrier Reef's outlook remains “very poor” despite coral (珊瑚) recovery over the past year, Australian government scientistssaid Monday, just days before a UNESCO ruling on the site's world heritage (遗产) status.The United Nations cultural agency recommended last month that the world's largest reef (珊瑚礁) system be placed on its endangered list because of damage to the corals largely caused by climate change.The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) said the corals were now in a “recovery window” after a decade of harmful heat stress and cyclones (旋风). But such opportunities were becoming rarer due to the influence ofclimate change, the government agency, which has monitored the reef for 35 years, said in its annual report released today. “The increasing emergence of climate-related extreme weather events and starfish outbreaks is causing more severe and frequent pressures, giving the reef fewer opportunities like this to recover,”CEO Paul Hardisty said. The scientists surveyed 127 reef sites in 2021 and found hard coral cover had increased at 69 of the 81 locations surveyed in the past two years.Separate scientific research released last October found the 2, 300-kilometre (1, 400 miles) system had lost half its corals since 1995, with a series of ocean heatwaves causing mass coral death.Britta Schaffelke, research program director at AIMS, said the latest findings provided a slight hope that the reef still has the power of recovering. But she added that its future is still very poor because of the dangers of climate change and other factors that are affecting the reef.UNESCO has urged Australia to take urgent climate action but the government has long resisted calls to commit to net zero emissions (排放) by 2050. The government has said it hopes to meet the target “as soon as possible” without harming its economy, insisting dealing with climate change requires a global effort. The reef was worth about US $4. 8 billion a year in tourism for the Australian economy and there are fears that an “in danger” listing could weaken its tourist appeal.8. What is the major cause of the damage to the corals?A. The climate change.B. Lack of money.C. Over development.D. Too many tourists.9. What is mainly talked about in Paragraph 3?A. The result of the survey.B. The efforts AIMS has made.C. The slight chance of the recovery.D. The terrible situation of the climate.10. What is Britta Schaffelke's attitude towards the future of the reef?A. Unclear.B. Positive.C Intolerant. D. Anxious.11. What can we infer from the last paragraph?A. Australia wants to put the reef on the endangered list.B. The Australian government has ignored UNESCO's demand.C. Australia hopes to keep a balance between emission target and its economy.D. The Australian government refuses to take its share of responsibility of climate change.DHave you ever been sad because of failure? Please remember, for quite often achieving what you set out to do is not the most important thing.A boy decided to dig a deep hole behind his house. As he was working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch. “What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors. “I want to dig a hole all the way through the earth!” the boy answered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling him that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a while, the boy picked up a jar. He showed it to the visitors. It was full of all kinds of stones and insects. Then he said calmly and confidently, “Maybe I can’t finish digging all the way through the earth, but look at what I’ve found during this period!”Theboy’s goal was far too difficult, but it did cause him to go on. And that is what a goal is for－to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen, in other words, to cause us to keep working!Not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will endup with a success. Not every dream will come true. But when you fall short of your aim, maybe you can say, “Yes, but look at what I’ve found along the way! There are so many wonderful things having come into my life because I tried to do something!” It is in the digging that life is lived. It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really makes sense.12. The older boys laughed at the boy because he was thought to be______.A. braveB. impoliteC. foolishD. warm-hearted13. Why did the boy show the jar to the older boys?A. To drive them away.B. To show what he had found in digging.C. To show how beautiful the jar was.D. To attract them to join him in the work.14. What can be learnt from the fourth paragraph of the text?A. No dream can come true.B. All work will end successfully.C. Goals shouldn’t be set too high.D. Goals will make us work harder.15. The best title for the text should be______.A. A Boy Dug a HoleB. Joy in the JourneyC. No Pain, No GainsD. Failure Is the Mother of Success第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021届太原市综合高级中学高三英语上学期期中考试试卷及答案解析第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AIt was a weeknight and one of my twin daughters marched into the room, waving a book she'd finished. “Dad, why are books with science in them always about boys?” she asked.I told her that simply wasn't true; there were loads of great science fictions with girls in them. She agreed, but argued that in those stories it was the boys who were doing science, and the girls were justalong for the ride. My other daughter took her sister's side and challenged me to give an example.This left me in a difficult position. I could either go through our library to point out some wonderful examples of female-led science fictions, or just admit they were right and remain in my comfortable chair.I've been asked several times how I came up with the idea forA Problematic Paradoxand my answer is always the same: it came to me in a moment of inspiration. I like that answer because it's simple and makes me seem very creative. The fact that this explanation is not true bothers me from time to time. Here's the truth: the story wasn't my idea. It was my daughters who suggested I write something for them that had a girl doing science.My daughters were at an age when many young women turn away from STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), believing those areas of study unfriendly or out-of-the-norm for girls. I also read about how important role models can be to young people. It's one thing to tell a person they can do something, but seeing someone like them doing that thing can be more powerful.So, I kept two guidelines for the book in mind: First, the story had to be fun for anyone, because it's as important for boys to understand that science is for everyone. Second, I wanted the main character, Nikola, to be imperfect. She should be someone with shortcomings as we all have. I think this not only makes a story more interesting to read, but also helps make it clear that the most extraordinary things can be done by ordinary people.1. What does the underlined phrase “along for the ride” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A. Entering a bike race.B. Offering vital help.C. Doing unimportant things.D. Playing the leading role.2. What do we know about the bookA Problematic Paradox1?A. Its main character is perfect.B. It is a female-led science fiction.C. It is intended to appeal to girls only.D. Its idea comes from the author's inspiration.3. Which of the following best describes the author's book?A. Serious and abstract.B. Simple and practical.C. Creative and well-organized.D. Inspiring and interesting.BBeing a teacher is a rewarding career when it comes to changing lives, but it’s obviously one that comes with plenty of stresses and difficulties too.Seeking help for a child who is so obviously in need isn’t easy. Often, you feel ignored by the government. You feel upset that there isn’t anything you could personally do to help a needy and sensitive member of your class.That’s exactly how Chelsea Haley, aged 24 at the time, felt when she met fourth-grade student Jerome Robinson while working for Teach forAmericainLouisianafor the first time.The pair didn’t get off to the best start, with Jerome, the “problem child”, almost drivingChelseafrom teaching. But whenChelseaput her foot down and became determined to work more closely with Jerome, she learned the cause of his rude behavior: a bad home situation.Chelseawas eager to help Jerome, and realized that he needed more than just academic support.By 2016, a year after meeting him, Chelsea had adopted (收养) Jerome and his brother Jace.Adopting a child doesn’t come cheap, andChelseaspent all the money in her bank to see the process through.In her first few years of raising the boys, she lived on credit cards and postponed her student loan.AsChelsealived with her two adopted sons, she worked hard to repay her debts. She took on extra tutoring jobs outside of school hours, moved in with her parents, and even delivered groceries for cash. Along the way, she was learning how to be the best mom to Jerome and Jace, cooking for them and cheering them on at football matches.And now, just five years later,Chelseacan proudly say that she has paid off nearly $50, 000 of debt. Now that she’s finally out of debt,Chelseahas plans to buy a house and save up for the boys’ college education.“It allows me to focus on the boys’ future,” she said. “Saving money for them, and not spending it on my past.”4. What do we know from paragraph 4?A. Jerome’s family was less fortunate.B. The brothers were in the same class.C. When helping Jerome,Chelseafelt hopeless.D.Chelseagot along well with Jerome from the very start.5. What didChelseado to pay off her debts?A. Borrow money from her parents.B. Do part-time jobs.C. Train students to play football.D. Cook for customers.6. How old wasChelseawhen she paid off nearly all of her debts?A. 24.B. 28.C. 29.D. 30.7. Which of the following can best describeChelsea?A. Lucky and lovely.B. Sensitive and ambitious.C. Selfless and determined.D. Warmhearted and strict.CIf you go into the forest with friends, stay with them. If you don’t, you may get lost. If you get lost, this is what you should do. Sit down and stay where you are. Don’t try to find your friends—let them findyou. You can help them find you by staying in one place. There is another way to help your friends or other people to find you. You can shout or whistle three times. Stop. Then shout or whistle three times again. Any signal given three times is a call for help.Keep up shouting or whistling. Always three times together. When people hear you, they will know that you are not just making a noise for fun. They will let you know that they have heard your signal. They will give you two shouts or two whistles. When a signal is given twice, it is an answer to a call for help.If you don’t think that you will get help before night comes, try to make a little house with branches(树枝). Make yourself a bed with leaves and grass.When you need some water, you have to leave your little branch house to look for it. Don’t just walk away. Pick off small branches and drop them as you walk in order to go back again easily. When you are lost, the most important thing to do is to stay in one place.8. If you get lost in the forest, you should _________.A. try to find your friends in no timeB. stay in one place and give signalsC. walk around the forestD. shout as loudly as possible9. Which signal is a call for help?A. Crying twice.B. Shouting here and there.C. Whistling everywhere in the forest.D. Shouting or whistling three times together.10. When you hear two shouts or two whistles, you know that _________.A. someone needs your helpB. something terrible will happenC. people will come to help youD. someone is afraid of an animal11. What’s the meaning of the last paragraph?A. Use branches to make a bed.B. Drop branches to look for water.C. Pick off branches to build another house.D. Leave branches to help you find your way back.DWhen an animal species is considered endangered, it means that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has evaluatedit as nearly extinct, which means that a majority of its population has already died off and the rate of birth is lower than the species’death rate. Today, more and more animal and plant species are on the way to extinction because of a variety of major factors that cause a species to become endangered, and as you might expect, humans play a role in quite a few of them — in fact, the biggest threat to endangered animals is human encroachment (侵入) on their habitats.Every species needs a habitat, where an animal finds food, raises its young. Unfortunately, humans destroy animal habitats in a number of different ways: building houses, clearing forests to getlumberand to plant crops, draining rivers to bring water to those crops, and making streets and parking lots.In addition, human development pollutes the environment with all kinds of chemicals, which destroys food sources and shelters for the creatures and plants of that area. As a result, some species die out while others are pushed into areas where they can’t find food and shelters — to make matters worse, when one animal population suffers, it affects many other species in its food web, so more than one species’population is likely to decrease.Habitat destruction is the number one reason for animal endangerment, which is why conservation groups work hard to repair the effects of human developments — many non-profit groups like the Nature Conservancy are taking measures to clean up coastlines and establish nature preserves to prevent further harm to native environments and species around the world.12. A species is considered endangered________.A. when the IUCN has noticed its population changeB. when most of its population has died offC. when the species’ birth rate is close to its death rateD. when the species is losing its habitat13. What does the underlined word “lumber” probably mean?A. Gas.B. Food.C. Chemicals.D. Wood.14. What is being done to protect the endangered species?A. Calling for human development.B. Raising money.C. Establishing nature preserves.D. Educating people.15. What is the main idea of the passage?A. Habitat destruction causes animal endangerment.B. Animals die out due to environment pollution.C. Measures need to be taken to increase species.D. Non-profit groups are making great contributions.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021届太原市第三中学高三英语上学期期中考试试题及答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AThe COVID -19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life, including the way we travel. But for those who are looking to expand their horizons while still staying safe, the following three travel trends in 2021 may provide inspirations. Let’s take a look.StaycationWith many travel restrictions during the pandemic, people preferred traveling to nearby places in 2020. This trend continues in 2021. According to search data, 62 percent of people are interested in taking a vacation within driving distance of home. People who live in large cities want to get back in touch with nature. Travelers are looking for places different from their everyday accommodations, for example, farm stays, villas and cottages.Pod travelWhile 2020 saw a rise in solo travel and isolated adventures, 2021 shows that people want to be more connected. “Pod travel”, or gathering in isolated spaces with loved ones, is growing in popularity. 85 percent of survey respondents favor traveling with family or friends, and over half of the trips searched include three or more people. Pod travel is here to stay for those who want to safely be together while reducing risks associated with socializing with others.Remote working and travelingMany people worked and learned from home in 2020 because of the pandemic. Remote working blurs the line between working and traveling. There was a 128 percent increase in the mention of phrases such as “relocation”, “relocate”, “remote work” and “trying a new neighborhood”. People are actively booking longer stays (e. g. two plus week trips) in small to mid—size cities with access to immersive natural surroundings and wide—open spaces.1.What can we learn about Staycation?A.Travelling to the countryside.B.Taking an isolated adventure.CHaving holidays in nearby places. D.Staying indoors all by oneself.2.What’s special about Pod travel?A.Traveling alone.B.Traveling far away.C.Traveling while working.D.Traveling with loved ones.3.Where might we find the text in a magazine?A.Medicine.cation.C.TourismD.Career.BEven as Google plans to test its fleet (车队) of self-driving cars on public roads this summer, its business model remains abit of a mystery. By 2025, as many as 250,000 self-driving vehicles could be sold each year globally, according to a study by an industry research firm.“Vehicles that can take anyone from A to B at the push of a button could transform mobility for millions of people,” said Chris Urmson, director of Google’s self-driving car project. For now, Google has no plans to sell any of its self-driving cars. They are strictly for research. But they will hit public roads this summer near Google’s headquarters inMountain View,California. Previous testing has taken place only on closed courses.The cars are built to operate without a steering wheel, accelerator (油门) or brake pedal. “Our software and sensors do all the work,” Urmson said. “The vehicles will be very basic — we want to learn from them and adapt them as quickly as possible — but they will take you where you want to go at the push of a button.” The prototype (雏形) is the first of a 100-car fleet the tech giant is building.In the long run, Urmson sees a future of safer roads — the majority of auto accidents are caused by human error — and fewer traffic jams. Robotic cars could also shuttle people who can’t drive because of age or illness.Google has said that self-driving cars could launch new business models in which people buy the use of vehicles they don’t own. The company has already tested other types of self-driving cars on public streets, including modified Lexus sport-utility vehicles, under a special permit program by the California Department of Motor Vehicles that requires a human driver at the controls.The state has issued six other companies permits to operate such cars, includingDelphi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Tesla, Bosch and Nissan. The vehicles that will be tested on open roads this summer will have removable steering wheels, accelerators and brake pedals to allow “safety drivers” to take control if needed.4. According to Chris Urmson, __________.A. self-driving cars can give driving orders to humansB. self-driving cars are specially designed for the elderlyC. software and sensors are vital for self-driving carsD. ordinary vehicles will be replaced by self-driving cars5. Paragraph 4 is meant to tell us that __________.A. many traffic accidents are caused by human errorB. some people can’t drive because of illness or ageC. Urmson has promised to create safer roads in the futureD. self-driving cars will probably help to make safer roads and decrease traffic jams6. The underlined word “issued” in the last paragraph can probably bereplaced by__________.A. givenB. claimedC. awardedD. prohibited7. What’s the author’s attitude towards self-driving cars?A. Objective.B. Indifferent.C. Subjective.D. Favorable.CIt's the near future.Animal populations have fallen sharply and 80% of species are extinct.The forests are so rare that you need to make a booking to visit one. Birds also face extinction.The Arctic terns,a species evolved to fly across the world on4000kmannual journeys，are on their last migration (迁徙) to Antarctica.The Last Migrationby the Sydney-based writer Charlotte McConaghy is a different sort of climate novel，one in which the heroine's(女主人公)damaged soul is as much a story as the damaged environment This is McConaghy's first work of literary fiction,after a history publishing in science fiction and a romantic fantasy series."I wanted to try and engage with the climate crisis closely,"she said."It's hard to nail down where he book came from.But I had Toni Morrison's words in my head:'If there's a book you really want to read,but i hasn't been written yet,then you must write it.'I love that. It really speaks to me.""I wanted to write about the way the natural world is disappearing but I didn't know a way in."The way in”, she says, was to"go travelling.I went to Ireland and Iceland,and thought about these incredible journeys of the terns and these people who study hes journeys."The book became a story of a double journey: the migration of the birds,and a broken woman's travelling to the end of the earth.Much of the book is told in flashbacks, the action jumping between the south coast of New South Wales to the west coast of Ireland and to Greenland."I've always been fascinated with Ireland: the landscape, the people and the poetry and music.I wasfascinated with writing a character from there. It was a way to connect more with the place."McConaghy says she also wanted to have a character who was"of two places"."I had lived in 21 houses by the time I was 21, as a result I definitely know how it feels to feel as if you are not sure where you belong and feeling as if you are between two worlds."8. How isThe Last Migrationdifferent from other climate novels?A. It forecasts environmental destruction.B. It features a bird's cross-continental migration.C It combines science fiction well with romantic fantasy.D. It attaches equal importance to the heroine's broken soul.9. What did McConaghy think of Toni Morrison's words?A. Inspirational.B. One-sided.C. Authoritative.D. Casual.10. Why did McConaghy go travelling?A. To appreciate the landscape of Ireland.B. To follow the migration of the birds.C. To get away from her tiresome life.D. To find ideas for her new book.11. How might a character "of two places"feel?A. Content and carefree.B. More connected with nature.C. Lacking in a sense of belonging.D. Knowledgeable about the world.DI’ve long believedthat positive living isn’t about being optimistic every minute of every day. That kind of permanently happy state can’t be the goal, because it’s impossible to achieve.It turns out that psychological research finds true happiness comes from authentic positivity, and authentic positivity comes from emotional flexibility.Being flexible emotionally means being open to the full range of emotional experiences, including the challenging ones like anger, disappointment and sadness. Emotional flexibility means being able to shift behaviors and mindsets to meet different situational needs, and adapting when circumstances change.However, emotionally flexible people are not chameleons (变色龙) whose outlook changes based on whichway the wind is blowing. Instead, emotional flexibility is a skill that helps people judge the complexities of daily life, and stick to their deeply held values.I’ve learned a new word that I’d like to share with you: Eudaimonia (幸福感). Eudaimonia is the opposite of hedonism (享乐主义), the idea that happiness comes from the constant pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain. Eudaimonia, by contrast, encourages us to pursue meaning and authenticity, growth and honest joy. Both are philosophical approaches to happiness, and recent psychological thought is leaning toward eudaimonia as a more sustainable, satisfying model.Eudaimonia was first mentioned by Aristotle, who got the term from the Greek word “daimon,” which means “true nature.” Tome, walking a positive path means accepting that we each have positive true nature and permanent goodness. What we learn from the concept of eudaimonia is that we are best equipped to realize this nature when we are emotionally honest and flexible.12. What is the author’s belief?A. People should live alone.B. People can’t always be happy.C. People can’t always achieve their goals.D. People should pursue true achievements.13. What do enmotionally flexible people commit themselves to?A. Their strongly believed values.B. Their different needs.C. Permanent happiness.D. The pursuit of hedonism.14. How can people gain eudaimonia according to the author?A. By being honest to others.B. By changing true nature.C. By keeping realstically optimistic.D. By pursuing pleasure constantly.15. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?A. What is the meaning of eudaimonia?B. What should we do to keep positive?C. How can we keep happy forever?D. Why can’t people be happy all the time?第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021届太原市第三中学高三英语上学期期中考试试卷及答案解析第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AFine art fairs（艺术博览会）are the trend of the 21st century, with new art and antique（古玩）fairs and festivals springing up in diverse parts of the world. Here is a list of four noteworthy art fairs.Art Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandThe granddaddy of art fairs, Art Basel, was established in 1970 by a group of local art gallerists and is the biggest contemporary art fair in the world. Art Basel takes place over a 5-day period each June in Basel, Switzerland. The high cost of renting space for gallery owners is offset（抵消）by the huge attendance at the fair. For example in 2010, about 60,000 visitors attended Art Basel.Frieze Art Fair, London“Frieze Art Fair was established in 2003 and is one of the few fairs to focus only on contemporary art and living artists.v"Thefair takes place every October in Regent's Park, London. It features over 170 of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the world. ”In addition to the fair which began in 2003, the fair owners Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp publish Frieze, an international art magazine established in 1991 and devoted to contemporary art.TEFAF Maastricht, the NetherlandsEstablished in 1975 as The Pictura Fine Art Fair, and renamed The European Fine Art Foundation（TEFAF）, Maastricht in 1996, the fair includes 260 of the world's most famous art and antique dealers from 16 countries.The 24th edition of the TEFAF fair held March 18 — 27, 2011 featured 260 dealers exhibiting approximately 30, 000 artworks and antiques with an overall value of $ US 1. 4 billion.ARCO, MadridARCO Madrid was established in 1982 and is one of Europe's leading and popular art fairs. In addition to the exhibiting galleries（in 2011, 197 international art galleries participated）, a seriesof lectures and specially focused exhibitions take place.1.How does Art Basel cover the expense of renting space?A.By selling tickets.B.By selling expensive exhibits.C.By donation from dealers.D.By support from the government.2.The owners of Frieze Art Fair are also in charge of____.A.170 living artists.B.An international art magazine.C.30,000 artworks and antiques.D.A series of lectures.3.Which of the following has the longest history?A.Art BaselB.Frieze Art FairC.TEFAFD.ARCOBOver the years, NASA has successfully sent several rovers (飞行器) to Mars. While the science laboratories continue to provide important information on the Red Planet, they keep the space exploration rovers staying closeto the original landing place.To get a more comprehensive (详尽的) view of Mars, the US Space Agency plans to make a small test helicopter with the Mars 2020 Rover, which will be sent off in July 2020.The football-sized “marscopter” weighs about four pounds.It can fly at about ten times the speed of helicopters on Earth. The light weight and fast speed are important for the helicopter to be able to fly in the thin Mars atmosphere, which is about just one percent of that of Earth. “To make it fly in that thin Mars atmosphere, we had to make everything ready, and make it as light as possible while being as strong and powerful as it can possibly be. “Mimi Aung, Mars helicopter project manager, said in a meeting.Upon landing on the Red Planet, the Mars 2020 Rover will find a proper location to send of the helicopter. The helicopter will start with a short climb, no higher than 10 feet, and hover (盘旋) for just 30 seconds before landing back on the Mars surface. If all goes well, five more flights of longer distances, for 90 seconds each, will be conducted over the next 30 days. The short journeys will be recorded by a small camera and sent back to the scientists on Earth.If the plan goes on well, the first helicopter to fly in another world, will open up a whole new way to explore Mars. The Mars helicopter's first flight will be a great invention. For those of us whose research is about flight, that would be a wonderful, historic moment.4. To fly in thin Mars atmosphere，we should make the helicopter_______.A. strong and heavyB. heavy and fastC. light and fastD. strong and slow5. How many times will the helicopter fly?A. Three timesB. Four timesC. Five timesD. Six times6. What can we learn from the last paragraph?A. It’s interesting to fly in another world.B. I' s important to fly in another world.C. The plan to fly the helicopter goes on well.D. The helicopters first flight is successful.7. What may be the best title for the passage?A. To send a helicopter to Mars in 2020B. To send a rover to Mars in 2020C. To live in the thin Mars atmosphereD. To send back records to scientistsCRecently, I read about a promotion from a home builder in San Diego where consumers (消费者) could buy a 4,000 square foot house for $1.6 million and get a smaller home bythe developer valued at $400 thousand for free. This sounds like a fantastic deal, but I am alwayswary ofany promotion labeled (给……加标签) with“buy one get one free”, and here is why.Oftentimes, “buy one get one free” ends up being “buy two at the regularprice”. For example, I often see “buy one get one free” ads for orange juice at the supermarket, but the first box always costs over $5.00. At the same time, the juices not in the promotion are selling for $2.50 to $2.99 a box.Another problem with “buy one get one free” is that oftentimes you do not need the second item. I only consume one gallon of milk every two weeks. If I were talked into buying a second gallon in a “buy one get one free” promotion, then the second gallon would go bad before I have time to consume it. That creates waste instead of savings.In the case of theSan Diegodeveloper, so far they have received one offer on their expensive houses, but the buyer does not want the cheaper house for free. Instead, he wants the value of the smaller home taken away from his purchase price. I think this guy is quite wise because he saw right through the marketing of “buy one get one free”.Finally, it is up to you to see how much you need and how much you are willing to spend. Knowing the regular price of things also helps you in deciding whether a “buy one get one free” promotion is truly a great deal.8. What does the underlined part “wary of” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A. annoyed atB. careful aboutC. familiar withD. puzzled about9. Why does the author mention milk in Paragraph 3?A. To show that there are many promotions of food.B.To suggest that people think twice before they shop.C. To prove that the second item isn’t always as good as the first one.D. To show that people often buy more than they need in the promotion.10. What does the house buyer want to do?A. Buy the smaller house only.B. Get the smaller house for free.C. Buy the larger house for $1.2 million.D. Buy both the larger and smaller houses for $2 million.11. How does the author organize the text?(P: Paragraph)A. B. C. D.DChinese archaeologists（考古学家）announced on Saturday that some new major discoveries have been made at the Sanxingdui Ruins site in Southwest China, helping uncover another start of the Chinese civilization.Archaeologists have found six new sacrificial pits（祭祀坑）and unearthed more than 500 treasures dating back 3,000 years at the Sanxingdui Ruins in Sichuan Province. So far, archaeologists have unearthed masses of important cultural items from four of the pits, including pieces of gold masks, gold foil, bronze（青铜）masks, bronze trees and large numbers of ivories. The rest of the newly discovered pits arc still being dug up.“Surprisingly, we have unearthed some never — heard — of — before bronze items," said Lei Yu, from the Sichuan Archaeology Research Institute. 'Tor instance, some large and well-made bronze items have strange-looking dragon or cow designs on them.”In another major discovery, relics of silk products were found for the first time at Sanxingdui, which shows “the ancient Shu Kingdom was one of the important starts of silk in ancient China" according to Tang Fei, head of the digging team.The new pits sit next to two sacrificial pits discovered in 1986, with areas ranging between 3o square meters and 19 square meters. Together they form an area in which people of the ancient Shu civilization held ceremonies to offer sacrifices to heaven, earth and their forefathers, and prayed for good luck and peace.The Sanxingdui Ruins is regarded as one of the greatest archaeological finds of mankind in the 20th century. The site was accidentally discovered by a farmer in the 1920s. The ruins are located in the city ofGuanghan, about 60 kilometers fromChengduand are believed to be the relics of theShuKingdom.12. What can we learn from the text?A. Totally there are 500 treasures unearthed.B. Six new sacrificial pits are under repair.C. The unearthed treasures date from 3000 years ago.D. There are six sacrificial pits at Sanxingdui.13. What does the discovery of the relics of silk products mean?A. Chinese civilization was widely influential.B.AncientShuKingdomwas also the home of silk.C. Chinese silk has a much longer history than known.D.ShuKingdombelonged toChinasince ancient times.14. What was the main function of the sacrificial pits?A. To celebrate festivals.B. To store valuable items.C. To bury important figures.D. To hold sacrifice ceremonies.15. Who first discovered the Sanxingdui Ruins?A. A farmer.B. Lei YuC. Tang Fei.D. Archaeologists.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021届太原市进山中学高三英语上学期期中考试试卷及参考答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AFor some people, there’s no better companion than mans best friend-a dog. This four-legged pet can bring comfort and joy and provide much- needed exercise for you when it needs walkies! This probably explains why dog ownership increased last year because people spent more time at home during he CovID-I9 lockdown.However, as demand for a new dog increased, so did the price tag. Popular breeds, such as Cockapoos and Cocker Spaniels, saw even sharper price increases, and puppies have been selling for $3,000 or more.Animal welfare charities fearthat high prices could encourage puppy farming, smuggling (走私) or dog theft. An investigation found some breeders have been selling puppies and kittens on social media sites--something charities have called “extremely irresponsible”.But despite some new owners purchasing a dog legally, maybe from a rescue center or registered breeder, they’ve proved to be ill-prepared for life with a new pet, and the pet itself has found it hard tocome to terms withlife in a new home.Looking to the future, there are concerns about the welfare of these much-loved pets. Lan Alkin manager of the Oxfordshire Animal Sanct uary in the UK, notes: “At the moment, the dogs are having a great time, but separation anxiety could still surface when people go back to work.” And Cliare Calder from the UKs Dogs Trust rescue charity says, “The economic situation also means that some people may find they can’t afford to look aftera dog.” The message is not to buy a dog in haste and to pick one that fits into our lifestyle.1. The greater demand for dogs can cause the following problems except ________.A. illegal trade of dogsB. less dog farmingC. high prices of dogsD. online sale of dogs2. What does the underlined phrase"come to terms with"in paragraph 4 mean?A. Fit in withB. Go in forC. Make up for.D. End up with3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?A. Despite the problems, dogs are living happily.B. The writer has a positive attitude towards dogs future.C. Experts are worried that dogs will be unaffordable to people.D. The writer advises people to think twice before keeping dogs as pets.BOne billion people in the world are short of water. How can this problem be solved. Some suggestions have been to desalinate ocean water or to build enormous water pipelines from areas where water is abundant. (Suggestions such as these prove extremely expensive when they are actually used.) One possibility that scientists are considering is pulling icebergs from either the North Pole or the South Pole to parts of the world with a water shortage. Although many questions must be answered before such a project could be tried, moving icebergs seems a reasonable possibility in the future.Engineers, mathematicians, and glaciologists from a dozen countries have been considering the iceberg as a future source of water. Saudi Arabia is particularly interested in this project because it has a great water shortage. Scientists estimate that it would take 128 days to transport a large iceberg (about 1/2 square mile) to Saudi Arabia. Yet the iceberg would be completely melted by the 104th day. Therefore, insulation would be essential, but how to insulate the iceberg remains an unsolved problem.The problems in transporting an iceberg are numerous. The first problem is choosing the iceberg to pull. The icebergs that form in the North Pole are quite difficult to handle because of their shape. Only a small portion extends above the water — most of the iceberg is below the surface, which would make it difficult to pull. South Pole icebergs, on the other hand, are flat and float like table tops. Thus they would be much easier to move.How can a 200-million-ton iceberg be moved. No ship is strong enough to pull such enormous weight through the water. Perhaps several ships could be used. Attaching ropes to an iceberg this size is also an enormous problem. Engineers think that large nails or long metal rods could be driven into the ice. What would happen if the iceberg splits into several pieces during the pulling. Even if an iceberg with very few cracks were chosen, how could it be pulled through stormy waters. Furthermore, once the iceberg reached its destination, very few ports would be deep enough to store it.All of these problems must be solved before icebergs can become a reasonable source of water. Yet scientists estimate that it will be possible to transport them in the near future. Each year, enough icebergs form to supply the whole world with fresh water for a full year. In addition, icebergs are free and nonpolluting. As a solution to the world’s water problems, icebergs may be a workable possibility.4. What is a problem in transporting iceberg?A. The size of the iceberg.B. The colour of the iceberg.C. The salt in the iceberg.D. The movement of air and water.5. What is the author’ attitude towards transporting iceberg?A. Pessimistic.B. Objective.C. Optimistic.D. Unconcerned.6. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?A. It is hard to use iceberg.B. Iceberg are a good choice.C. There are problems with iceberg.D. Man finds no other ways to solve water shortage.7. What can be a suitable title for the text?A. Shortage of water.B. Icebergs for water.C. Scientists and icebergs.D. Iceberg—scientists headache.CIn ancient times, Chinese used plant leaves or bird feathers as a fan during the summer time. This was the earliest form of the fan. The first real fan was made back in the era of Yao and Shun period thousands of years ago. Since then,Chinese-made fans have become a vital part of Chinese art and culture. At the beginning, the fan functioned as a tool to generate a current of air in the hot weather. Now electric fans such as ceiling fans and other technological breakthroughs have taken the place.Long ago, fans caught the attention of ancient Chinese artists by chance. Thereafter, a unique fan art gradually took shape in the history of Chinese culture. Fan art usually includes Chinese calligraphy, paintings, or poems on the sectors（扇区）. Special skills are needed to write or paint on them.Due to its history and partly because of its unique shape, Chinese would soon develop the tradition of using fans as ornaments（装饰品）. Fans are made in different sizes and different color1 s to meet the needs of each request. Other Chinese ornaments, such as the Chinese knot, the green jade, and the Spring Festival picture, are often combined in each design.The value of fans depends mainly on the materials used and the level of craftsmanship that is involved during the process. Feather, paper, jade, bamboo and silk have all been used as ideal materials to make fans. Ancient Chinese even made iron fans to serve as deadly weapons（武器）in Chinese martial arts. Fans made by famous craftsmen are often characterized by pretty designs and detailed workmanship, and thus become favorites of collectors. Fans with masterpiece fine art like calligraphy or paintings are even more valuable.8.What is the first paragraph mainly about?A. The origin of fans.B. The materials of fans.C. The popularity of fans.D. The production of fans.9. Why do Chinese use fans as ornaments?A. They are made of valuable materials.B. They reflect the beauty of Chinese culture.C. They convey literature works on the sectors.D. They are often combined with other ornaments.10. Which of the following makes a fan favored by most collectors?A. Its advanced function.B. Its complex character.C. Its artistic handicraft.D. Its various applications.11. What can we infer about the fan from the text?A. Chinese send fans to their friends as gifts.B. Chinese ornaments can meet different requests.C. Traditional fans have lost their functional value.D. The fan plays different roles with the change of time.DTaking an afternoon nap could keep your brain sharp, a new study has said. Adults ages 60 and older who took afternoon naps showed signs of better mental ability compared to those who didn’t nap, according to a study published in General Psychiatry earlier this week.Researchers analyzed napping habits in 2, 214 older Chinese people and measured their cognitive abilities using several cognitive tests. Participants took the Mini-Mental State Examination and theBeijingversion of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, both of which test for memory, language and other cognitive abilities. In every category listed in the study, nappers tested statistically higher on average compared to their non-napping counterparts.Researchers did not gather data from people under 60, so a correlation cannot be drawn between napping and younger generations. The study also noted that there are conflicting studies about the benefits and risks of napping.Sleeping behaviors can be affected by a multitude of factors, said Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor atJohnsHopkinsUniversity. “Daily routines, medication use and sleep disorders can all play a role in how frequently someone takes a nap.” he said.Neubauer recommended taking a shorter “power nap” of up to 20 minutes to decrease the chances of transitioning into slow-wave sleep, which makes people feel groggy when they wake up. “Napping can be a healthy part of an older adult’s day”, Neubauer acknowledged, but make sure “sleepiness isn’t due to a treatable nighttime sleep disorder.” Older individuals who want to do all they can to preserve their cognitive functioning should put nighttime sleep first.12. What is the best way to keep a better cognitive ability for the old?A. Take a nap every day.B. Take sleep disorder seriously.C. Have a good sleep at night.D. Do exercise regularly.13. How did the researchers reach the conclusion?A. By taking the examinations and assessment.B. By analyzing napping habits and giving tests.C. By measuring nappers’ ability and analyzing them.D. By doing an experiment.14. Which has NO effect on one’s sleeping behaviors?A. Taking a nap.B. Medicine treatmentC. Sleep problemsD. Everyday activities.15. What can we know about “slow-wave sleep”?A. It appears in short nap up to 20 minutes.B. People should avoid it in their naps.C. It is a healthy part of an elder’s day.D. It was recommended by Neubauer.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021届太原市第三中学高三英语上学期期中试卷及答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项APlan Your Visit to the British MuseumWe've made a few changes to ensure you can safely enjoy your visit:How to book tickets·Tickets for the permanent collection can only be hooked online in advance.·To book tickets for exhibitions, visit our exhibition pages. If you want to guarantee your visit to the permanent collection as well as the exhibition on your visit, you will need to book a separate ticket.·We are limiting numbers of people in the museum to ensure there is room for you to safely enjoy your visit. Everyone, including members and volunteers, will therefore need to book a free, timed ticket in advance.Important information about your ticket booking·You can book up to six tickets for people who live in the same family.·We will email yourticket to you, and you will need to show it either printed out or on your device (设备) when you arrive.·Please arrive at the time stated on your ticket-we cannot guarantee admission before or after it.Following the routeWe have created a new one-way route through the museum which will allow you to safely explore world cultures from the Mediterranean to the Middle East and from the Americas to Africa.·View a map of the route (Open in a new window).·Our audio guides (音频指南) are not available. However, youcan pay to download the audio introductions from iTunes (Open in a new window) or Google Play (Open in a new window) to each of the galleries and listen on your own device. Please remember to bring along your own headphones.1.Why does the museum offer timed tickets?A.To earn more money.B.To hire more volunteers.C.To save room for collections.D.To control the number of visitors.2.How can a visitor learn about the new route in advance?A.View an online map.B.Buy a new headphone.C.Buy audio guides from the museum.D.Download video introductions from iTunes.3.Where can you probably find the text?A.In a newspaper.B.In a magazine.C.On a website.D.In a report.BEver wondered if dogs can learn new words? Yes, say researchers as they have found that talented dogs may have the ability to grasp new words after hearing them only four times.While previous evidence seems to show that most dogs do not learn words, unless eventually very well trained, a few individuals have shown some extraordinary abilities, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.“We wanted to know under which conditions the gifted dogs may learn novel words” said researcher xuekw Claudia Fugazza from theEötvösLorándUniversityinHungary. For the study, the team involved two gifted dogs, Whisky and Vicky Nina. The team exposed the dogs to the new words in two different conditions.In the exclusion-based task, presented with seven known toys and one new toy, the dogs were able to select the new toy when presented with a new name. Researchers say this proves that dogs can choose by exclusion when faced with a new word, they selected the only toy which did not have a known name.However, this was not the way they would learn the name of the toy. In fact, when they were presented with one more equally new name to test their ability to recognize the toy by its name, the dogs got totally confused and failed.The other condition, the social one, where the dogs played with their owners who pronounced the name of the toy while playing with the dog, proved to be the successful way to learn the name of the toy, even after hearing it only 4 times. “The rapid learning that we observed seems to equal children’s ability to learn many new words at a fast rate around the age of 18 months,” Fugazza says. “But we do not know whether the learning mechanisms(机制) behind this learning are the same for humans and dogs. ”To test whether most dogs would learn words this way, 20 other dogs were tested in the same condition, but none of them showed any evidence of learning the toy names, confirming that the abilityto learn words rapidly in the absence of formal training is very rare and is only present in a few gifted dogs.4. What was the purpose of the study published in Scientific Reports?A. To better train dogs’ ability to learn new words.B. To further confirm previous evidence about dogs.C. To prove extraordinary memory abilities of gifted dogs.D. To explore favorable conditions for gifted dogs’ new-word learning.5. How did the dogs react when exposed to two new names in the first condition?A. Slow to understand.B. Quick to learn.C. At a loss.D. In a panic.6. What was found about dogs’ new-word learning in the social condition?A. Learning through playing applied to most dogs.B. The social condition helped dogs learn new words.CDogs’ new-word learning turned out to be less effective.D. Dogs shared similar learning mechanisms with children.7. Which of the following is the best title for the text?A. Gifted Dogs Can Learn New Words Rapidly.B. Dogs Identify Newly-named Toys by Exclusion.C. Dogs Can Acquire Vocabulary through Tons of Training.D. Gifted Dogs Have Similar Learning Abilities to Humans.CIn the summer of 2016, I gave a talk at a small conference in northernVirginia. I began by admitting that I’d never had a social-media account; I then outlined arguments for why other peopleshould consider removing social media from their lives. The event organizers uploaded the video of my talk to YouTube. Then it was shared repeatedly on Facebook and Instagram and, eventually, viewed more than five million times. I was both pleased and annoyed by the fact that my anti-social-media talk had found such a large audience on social media.I think of this event as typical of the love-hate relationships many of us have with Facebook, Instagram, and other social-media platforms. On the one hand, we’ve grown cautious about the so-called attention economy, which, in the name of corporate(公司的) profits, destroys social life gradually and offends privacy. But we also benefit from social media and hesitate to break away from it completely. Not long ago, Imet a partner at a large law firm in Washington, D.C., who told me that she keeps Instagram on her phone because she misses her kids when she travels; looking through pictures of them makes her feel better.In recent months, some of the biggest social-media companies, Facebook and Twitter, in particular, have promised various reforms. In March, Mark Zuckerberg announced a plan to move his platform toward private communication protected by end-to-end encryption(端对端加密); later that month, he put forward the establishment of a third-party group to set standards for acceptable content.All of these approaches assume that the reformation of social media will be a complex, lengthy, and gradual process. But not everyone sees it that way. Alongside these official responses, a loose collective of developers that calls itself the IndieWeb has been creating another alternative. They are developing their own social-media platforms, which they say will preserve what’s good about social media while getting rid of what’s bad. They hope to rebuild social media according to principles that are less corporate and more humane(人道的).8. Why did the author feel annoyed when his video was spread online?A. His video caused many arguments.B. His video was shared without his permission.C. His talk was opposed by a large amount of people.D. His video’s popularity on social media is against his talk.9. Why does the author mention the story of his partner in paragraph 2?A. To prove that social media has some benefits.B. To advise people to break away from social media.C. To tell the negative effects social media may produce.D. To describe people’s complicated relationships with social media.10. What is the purpose of the reform made by some social-media companies?A. To attract more users.B. To improve network environment.C. To make more profits.D. To provide more convenientservice.11. What does the IndieWeb intend to do?A. Develop new social-media platforms.B. Remove social media from people’s lives.C. Improve the existing social-media principles.D. Help social-media companies to make reformation.DThose who are concerned that robots are taking over the world can rest easy—for now. Though the androids have proved useful at performing ordinary tasks, they are not ready for the greatest time. At least that appears to be the case atJapan’s Henn-na Hotel chain where over half of the robot staff are being replaced by humans.The first location of the unique hotel opened in July 2015 was atNagasaki’s Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park. The hotel’s owner, Hideo Sawada, promised the hotel to be managed primarily by robots. Guests were greeted and checked-in by a dinosaur robot, while a cute android called Churi, placed inside each room, provided informationabout attractions. Not surprisingly, the lodging, recognized in 2016 as the world’s first robot-staffed hotel by Guinness World Records, drew in curious visitors from all around the world.But as the years have passed, the hotel’s main draw is becoming less novel and more unsatisfactory. Also as the robots are “aging”, they are costing more to repair. Among the 283 androids being replaced are the chain’s two dinosaur receptionists. In addition to scaring young guests, they are also unable to photocopy guests’ passports, forcing human employees to step in each time. Also out are the cute Churi robots, which annoyed guests by interrupting their conversations. For example, one guest told The Wall Street Journal that Churi mistook his snoring for a command and kept asking him to repeat his request all night.Sawada told The Wall Street Journal, “When you actually use robots you realize there are places where they aren’t needed—or just annoy people.” While Sawada may be cutting back on his use of androids, the recently-opened Smart LYZ Hotel and the Fly Zoo Hotel inChina, are run entirely by robots, with not a human in sight. Whether the employees have more competence than those “hired” by the Henn-na Hotel chain remains to be seen.12. What makesJapan’s Henn-na Hotel unique?A. Its robot employees.B. Its advanced equipment.C. Its convenient location.D. Its successful management.13. What is the author’s purpose with the example in paragraph 3?A. To entertain readers.B. To prove Churi’s drawback.C. To introduce Churi’s functions.D. To persuade people not to book the hotel.14. What does the owner ofJapan’s Henn-na Hotel think of his robot staff now?A. Attractive.B. Costly.C. Pioneering.D. Disappointing.15. What is the best title for the text?A. Robots Are Taking Over the World.B. The Boom of Robots-staffed Hotel.C. Robot Staff Are Fired For No Competence.D. The First Robots-staffed Hotel Won Guinness World Record.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021年太原市实验中学高三英语上学期期中试卷及答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项ASan Francisco Bay Area is a great place if you're a sports fan as you'll find several events all year round and plenty of team pride. If you are anywhere close to the area during a game,these fantastic sports events are here for you.San Francisco Giants BaseballThe San Francisco Giants baseball team plays in SF at Oracle Park. This is a fun ballpark because it's always packed with great energy and offers views of the bay. It's one of the most popular San Francisco sports events. The Giants are part of the National League West Division. Since their arrival here in 1958,they have been World Series Champions three times.Golden State Warriors BasketballThe fan base of the Golden State Warriors distributes the whole San Francisco Bay Area as this region's only NBA team.Their regular season runs from late October through mid-April, and all home games are played at the Chase Center in San Francisco.In total, the Warriors has won six NBA championships.San Francisco 49ers FootballThe 49ers are San Francisco's NFL team, though they have recently moved to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, about an hour south of SF. The football team was named for the prospectors (探矿者) who arrived in the area in 1849 for the Gold Rush. They’ve won 5 Super Bowl championships, all between 1981 and 1994.San Jose Sharks HockeyThe San Jose Sharks represent the Bay Area in hockey (冰球).They were founded in 1991 as the only Bay Area team to compete in the NHL. Sharks fans love going to these San Francisco sports events at the SAP Center,which they call the Shark Tank,located about an hour southeast of SF.1.Where can a sports fan have a good view of the area?A.The Oracle Park.B.The Chase Center.C.Levi's Stadium.D.The SAP Center2.Which team has claimed the most titles according to the text?A.The Giants.B.The Golden State Warriors.C.The 49ers.D.The San Jose Sharks.3.Where is the passage probably taken from?A.A book review.B.A news report.C.A science fiction.D.A tourist magazine.BBrain cells work to actively forget memories during a specific period of sleep. When we sleep our brains clear out the memories we’ve made while we’re awake, deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Forgetting is an active process, explained the authors of the study published in the journal Science. But less is known about this process during the different periods of sleep.They found that during the rapid eye movement (REM ) sleep period — or active sleep when we are thought to dream — special nerve cells appear to actively contribute to forgetting. What are known as melanin-concentrating hormone-producing (MCH) neurons (神经元) sit in the hypothalamus (下丘脑): a part of the brain which helps with a range of functions such as sleep, appetite and emotions. Past research has suggested these cells help to control REM sleep patterns: activating the MCH neurons increasing time spentin this period, while preventingthemreducing changes into this period.The scientists looked at MCH cells in mice, and found 52.8 percent were active during REM sleep, compared with 35 percent when the mice were awake. Study co-author Thomas Kilduff, director of the Center for Neuroscience at SRI International, told Newsweek the team was surprised to find that mice performed better on learning and memory tasks when the MCH cells were prevented. “This result suggests that activation of the MCH neurons may affect memory — that is, MCH neurons may facilitate forgetting,” Kilduff explained.When asked what motivated the study, Kilduff said, “We hope the work could deepen our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding the neural basis of learning and memory is a huge area of neuroscience research because of its effects on our everyday lives, as well as diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Prior to this work, no one suspected that MCH neurons had anything to do with forgetting,” said Kilduff.4. What can we infer from paragraph 1?A. Forgetting is a passive process.B. The forgetting process is known to us.C. Some memories are forgotten while we are awake.D. Certain memories are removed while we are asleep.5. What does the underlined word “them” in paragraph 2 refer to?A. REM sleep patterns.B. Past researches.C. MCH neurons.D. A range of functions.6. Why did Kilduff’s team conduct the research?A. To publish the study in the journal Science.B. To know more about Alzheimer’s disease.C. To contribute to human’s forgetting.D. To explore our everyday lives.7. What can we know about MCH?A. MCH cells takes control of REM sleep patterns .B. MCH neurons may disturb memory consolidation.C. MCH neurons have nothing to do with forgetting.D. MCH cells help mice performing better on learning.CDid you know that the average child has heard the word "no" over 20,000 times before they turn the age of three? Ironically, it is also around this time that children begin to develop enough personal character to refuse to obey. The "terrible twos" are categorized by a lack of understanding. Somewhere between three and four, children begin to acquire the skills to reason. It is during this time they watch how other children and adults reason. If we're not careful, the children will watch us model a world of "NOs".By the time a person turns eighteen, how many times have they been told no? I haven't found any studies that even attempted to track this statistic, but I'm sure if the number is 20,000 by three, then at eighteen that number has multiplied. You can do the math.Anyway, I think I know why we say no. We say no to protect. We say no to direct. We say no to stop potential confusion. However, do we sometimes say no just for the sake of saying no? Do we say no because we have internalized(内在化)all of the "NOs" we've heard over the years and we feel it is finally our time to say no to someone else?The internalized no can damage the growth process of dreams in infancy as quickly as it can weaken a three-year-old. And we wonder why we run intopeople with big, un-accomplished dreams who have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. They have to take on the 20,000 NOs. However, the thing that keeps them going is thepossibility of the power of ONE YES! Just as it only takes one book to make a writer a Pulitzer Prize Winner, it only takes one word to change the course of your day. That word is YES!8. What do we know about two- year- olds?A. They understand well.B. They often say no to others.C. They think logically.D. They don't do all they're told.9. What effect does saying no have on children?A. They lose all their dreams.B. They aren't easy to succeed.C. They don't make mistakes.D. They never say yes to others.10. Which word best describes the author's attitude to a world of "NOs"?A. Tolerant.B. Disapproving.C. Favorable.D. Carefree.11. What is the text?A. A how-to guide.B. A survey report.C. An opinion essay.D. A short story.DTo stay healthy and fit, Chinesestudents do group exercises every day at school. Most of you probably do the same set of exercises. But some school exercises have grown popular online due to their local and innovative designs.Singing in Sichuan dialects with energetic movements and unique mask-changing is not just a Sichuan Opera performance. It’s the routine exercise for students of Mianyang Foreign Languages Experimental School in Sichuan province.“Sichuan Opera is a local opera, and it is now facing a gap in inheritance (传承). Therefore, we cooperated with Mianyang Intangible Cultural Heritage Center to create a simple and easy-to-learn Sichuan Opera exercise,” said Shen Junhua, who is in charge of organizing the school’s exercise between classes.According to Shen, this new type of exercise has been practiced since 2017 and has been popular among students. When students enroll (入学), they will spend several weeks practicing it. At present, almost all of the students and teachers have mastered it.“In fact, we had hardly heard of Sichuan Opera before teachers taught us how to do the Sichuan Opera exercise,” said Li Yangwenwen, 14, an eighth grade student who also joined the school’s Sichuan Opera club out of interest. “It’s very different from normal exercises. After practicing it, we found it very beautiful and became interested in it. Now, almost all of the students look forward to our daily exercise time and feel excited to do it.”“By combining opera with daily exercise, the daily class activity allows students to perceive and understand Sichuan Opera’s culture”, Shen said. “After years of continuous effort to spread the seeds of traditional culture, the younger generation is finally catching on.”12. What do students in Shen’s school do during the group exercise?A. They do normal exercise .B. They sing pop songs in Sichuan dialects.C. They do mask-changing in a Sichuan Opera performance.D. They combine group exercise with Sichuan Opera.13. Why do they adopt the new type of exercise?A. To attract new students to the school.B. To inherit local culture.C. To create an easy-to-learn exercise.D. To make the school’s group exercise popular.14. How do teachers and students react to the group exercise?A. Calm.B. Indifferent.C. Enthusiastic.D. Uninterested.15. What can we learn from the last paragraph?A. Shen’s continuous effort is highly praised.B. The younger generation will have a stronger body.C. The students can better understand their local culture.D. Students help to spread the seeds of traditional culture toyounger generation.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2021届太原市外国语学校高三英语上学期期中考试试卷及答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项ANothing beats live music, but the venue makes a difference. When you're able to score tickets to an incredible concert in an incredible place, you won't forget the experience. Here are some of the coolest music venues from around the world. If you haven't been to any of these, you've got some traveling to do.Red Rocks, Morrison, the United StatesRed Rocks might be the most beautiful and famous venue in the United States. At 6,450 feet above sea level, Red Rocks is a geologically formed natural stage. Its massive sandstone provides a perfect stage for jam bands. If you're into the blues and jazz, you'll have no trouble finding something in line with your interests.Meet Factory, Prague, Czech RepublicSmallest venues on this list, Meet Factory is an art gallery, theater, and music venue. The venue only accommodates 1,000 people, so you won't see any huge names come through. Still, it's a great place to see up-and-coming local acts, and if you've got an eye for contemporary art, you'll love your time here.Arena of NÎmes, NÎmes, FranceOriginally built around A. D. 70, the Arena of Nimes presents concertgoers with an interesting question: Should they enjoy the music, or marvel at the architecture? The Arena is, after all, one of the world's best-preserved Roman theaters. Many major touring acts plan stops at the Arena of Nimes, especially during the venue's annual festival.Sydney Opera House, Sydney, AustraliaThe Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most famous performing venues. I's also one of the most distinctive buildings in Sydney, thanks to the breathtaking design by Danish architect Utzon. It hosts about 40 events per week, so whether you're into jazz, rock, classical music, or opera, you'll find something to watch.1.Where can you enjoy music in natural beauty?A.At Red Rocks.B.At Meet Factory.C.At Arena of Nimes.D.At Sydney Opera House.2.What is special about Meet Factory?A.It enjoys breathtaking scenery.B.It hosts both musical and artistic events.C.It is the largest venue of all.D.It is famous for contemporary music.3.What do the listed music venues have in common?A.They have a long history.B.They are built near the sea.C.They accommodate thousands of people.D.They are beautiful tourist attractions.BCanadaIs Our NeighbourCanada and the United States are neighbours.They are on the same land.They share the same long boundary(国界).These two nations are similar in many ways.Canada buys many goods from the United States.Cars and clothes are two examples.The United States also buys goods from Canada.Much of the paper used in the United States comes from Canada.Some of the oilweuse comes from Canada,too.Americans travel toCanadaon holiday.And Canadians often visit the United States.It is easy for the people of one country to go to the other country.Canadians read about the United States in newspapers and magazines.Many Americans watch Canadian baseball and hockey (曲棍球)matches on Sundays.However,there are important differences between theUnited Statesand Canada.The United States has more people.Because the population is smaller,there are more open places in Canada.There is much unused land.This is another important difference.4.Canadabuys from theUnited States.A.oil and paperB.nothingC.many thingsD.everything5.In the first paragraph “we” means ________.A.CanadiansB.AmericansC.ChineseD.students6.The people in theUnited Stateslike Canadian ________.A.baseballB.basketballC.newspapersD.oil7.Which of the following statements is WRONG?A.Canada has less people than theUSA.B.Canada has not used all the land.C.Canada is connected withAmerica.D.Canadians don’t like hockey.CA man in Indonesia is walking backwards for 435 miles. He's making the trip to encourage the government and others to value and protect Indonesia's rainforests.Medi Bastoni is 43 years old. He is an Indonesian. Indonesia is a large country in the world formed by a group of islands. There are over 16, 000 islands there，and most of them are covered with rainforests. But on Java, where Mr. Bastoni lives, far more forests have been cleared.Mr. Bastoni believes it's important to protect forests from being cut down, and to restore (恢复) them when they have been destroyed. Near his home, Mount Wilis is now being restored, but Mr. Bastoni wants to make the protection continue. That's how he came up with the idea of the 435-mile walk.And walking backwards? Mr. Bastoni wants Indonesians to look back at their past. Walking backwards is a good way to get attention. Right now, Mr. Bastoni's backward walk is pretty big news in Indonesia.Mr. Bastoni is wearing a frame(框架)that supports a large mirror in front of him, above his head. This allows Mr. Bastoni to look behind him while walking backwards. Besides, Mr. Bastoni is carrying a backpack with some clothes and a little food. He is planning on buying more meals from restaurants along the way. He has been sleeping at police stations, security posts, and even strangers homes during the trip. His plan is to cover about 19 miles a day. In early August he was in Sragen -- about 100 miles from his home. It's not clear whether Mr. Bastoni is still on track to arrive in Jakarta by August 17.8. What do we know about rainforests in Indonesia?A. Indonesia has the largest area of rainforests in the world.B. The loss of rainforests is getting serious on Java.C. The islands there are all covered by rainforests.D Local people pay great attention to rainforests.9. Why did Mr Bastoni want to take the 435-mile walk?A With the purpose of fighting climate change.B. With the aim of becoming a healthy person.C. With the hope of rebuilding rainforests.D. With deep love for traditional sports.10. What's the function of the large mirror?A. To make sure of Mr. Bastoni's safety.B. To show Mr. Bastoni's position correctly.C. To allow Mr. Bastoni to look forwards easily.D. To help Mr. Bastoni enjoy views on the road.11. What can be the best title for the text?A. The difficulty of protecting rainforests in Indonesia.B. The importance of rainforests to Indonesia.C. A trip to recall history and attract attention.D. A walking backwards trip to save rainforests.DAs one of the world’smost popular cultural mediums, cinema is at the leading position at the Taihu World Cultural Forum(论坛), an annual event that aims to improve cultural exchanges. So far this year, Chinese box office has already topped 58 billion yuan, the China Film Administration said. This indicates that China, the world’s second-largest movie market, is closing the gap with the United States, the world’s top cinema market.Cao Yin, director of the program center at China Movie Channel, said that China has 67,000 cinema screens. the most of any country, and the number is expected to increase to 80,000 by the end of next year. Saying that China has signed coproduction agreements with 22 countries (including the United States, Canada, Japan. India etc.) ,Cao added it has deepened cinematic exchanges between Chinese filmmakers and their foreign counterparts (同行).With the country’s huge native market, which produced more than 1,000 films in 2019, Hong Kong director Stanley Tong said he believes foreign filmmakers will increasingly seek cooperation with China. “International coproduction will become an important platform to send Chinese stories oversea and give us a broader vision of creation,” Tong said.Recently, over 80 percent of the world’s top 100 highest box-office titles have been action films. Tong said the films, in which plots are basically secondary to shining stunts (特技), is one of the easiest ways to appeal to foreign audiences. But it has been a decades-long struggle for Chinese filmmakers to sell their stories overseas. When asked what kinds of Chinese films would have the most global appeal. Yan Zhaozhu, chairman of the Taihu World Cultural Forum, said stories that address universal issues, such as environmental protection and climate change, are perhaps the best options.12. What is the purpose of the Taihu World Cultural Forum?A. To strengthen cultural exchanges.B. To build more cinemas in China.C. To invite more tourists to Taihu.D. To attract more international investment.13. What can we infer about Cao Yin’s opinion in Paragraph 2?A. Chinese box office has already overtaken the United States so farB. The screens of Chinese cinemas will be world-leading in the futureC. China has signed the most coproduction agreements with other countriesD. There will be more and more cooperations between Chinese filmmakers and other countries.14. How do Chinese filmmakers feel about selling their movies to the world right now?A. Easy.B. Disappointed.C. Challenged.D. Confused.15. What is the best title for the text?A. Box Office: Unclear FutureB. China: Top Second Movie MarketC. Cinema: The Leading Cultural PositionD. Chinese Filmmakers: Severe Competition Situation第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。